And when Edward, 30, kissed his bride, onlookers, some of whom had taken up their positions from 5am, felt they were part of a very special day in Chester’s history.

The royals were the other star attraction and guests enjoyed the novel experience of having the future King of England show them to their seats.

That’s because both the young princes, William and Harry, acted as ushers. Spectators who arrived early enough outside the cathedral saw the brothers walk up St Werburgh Street from the Chester Grosvenor hotel before the start of the service.

'No show'

Chatting among each other, they were greeted with a ripple of applause before entering via the south transept door. Conspicuous by their absence were the princes’ father Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles, who had pulled out of the wedding just a few days before.

But their decision not to attend did not deter the crowd, which grew in size behind temporary steel barriers.

Canny spectators took up vantage points on the upper floors of Costa Coffee and McDonald’s, overlooking the cathedral’s west door and bordering Town Hall Square where a Union Flag was fluttering in the breeze.

Then out rolled the ceremonial red carpet. Family members arrived including the bride’s mother, the Duchess of Westminster, with her second eldest daughter Lady Edwina, who had celebrated her 23rd birthday two days earlier.

When motorcycle outriders swept past, it was clear those people referred to in an earlier media briefing as VVIPs (Very Very Important Persons) were about to arrive.

Royal guests

As a black Jaguar drew up outside, the Queen, in a bright purple coat and hat, stepped out with her husband the Duke of Edinburgh.

The Queen arrives at Chester Cathedral for the wedding of Lady Tamara Grosvenor and Edward van Cutsem on November 6 2004 (Image: Hadyn Iball)

Her Majesty, who had just returned from a three-day trip to Germany, looked happy and was waving and beaming broadly.

The groom then appeared, immaculately dressed in tails, pin-stripe trousers and a sky blue tie.

Then came the biggest cheer of all when the bride arrived with her father, the Duke of Westminster, in a vintage maroon Rolls Royce.

The Duke, who is believed to have given the couple a wedding present of £10m, looked relaxed and well.

The bride, her face shrouded in a veil, was greeted by Canon Lawrence Skipper, 87, the retired clergyman who officiated on the day, just as he did at her parents’ wedding in 1978.

She was followed by her bridesmaids, including the Duchess’s third daughter Lady Viola, and page boys who arrived by executive coach.

The crowd dispersed a little during the 45-minute service only to regroup when the 650 guests began to emerge after 12.15pm.

'Marry me William'

The Queen waved to the appreciative crowd. And all eyes were on Princes William and Harry as they waited for their car with William’s godmother, the Duchess of Westminster, and her daughter Lady Edwina.

Both princes wore black and grey morning suits with a single red rose in their lapels. Harry sported a salmon pink tie and William wore a deep red tie, with beige waistcoats.

The princes waved to the crowds to chants of ‘Marry me, William’.

Then the bride, looking slightly overawed by the occasion, appeared with her husband. After some prompting from the paparazzi, Edward kissed Lady Tamara van Cutsem to the delight of everyone.

Local guests included Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire, William Bromley Davenport, Richard Thomas, chief executive of Chester Race Company and the Duke’s personal assistant Vicky Bolton.

Coaches and cars departed for a buffet reception at Eaton Hall, near Eccleston, the ancestral home of the Grosvenors, with a spectacular fireworks display at 9pm.

The couple’s honeymoon destination is being kept a secret but they are expected to live in London.